As we close 2014, it’s heartening to see that the new year will be filled with novels featuring diverse teens, including Cindy Rodriguez’s When Reason Breaks, Hannah Moskowitz’s Not Otherwise Specified, and Stacy Lee’s Under a Painted Sky. Magical realism also continues to make its stamp with Elana Arnold’s Infandous and Laura Ruby’s Bone Gap. And for those teens searching for swoon-inducing reads, check out Emery Lord’s The Start of Me and You and Andrea Siegel’s & Brent Bradshaw Everybody Knows Your Name. For readers of meatier fare, nonfiction and Adult Books for Teens might strike their fancy, instead.
The original reviews of the following works appeared in SLJ’s December print magazine.
Fiction
Abrams, Amir. Caught Up. 336p. ebook available. Dafina/Kensington. Dec. 2014. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9780758294784.
Gr 10 Up –Teens looking to read about romance, sex, drug use, and urban drama will find it in the story of 16-year-old Kennedy Simms, a suburban girl who longs for the excitement of life in the ‘hood. She’s attracted to boys who wear sagging jeans and smell of marijuana smoke—boys her more conservative friends disapprovingly call “thugs” and “hoodlums.” But Kennedy’s bored with dating the nerds her parents and friends like; she’s determined to break out of her safe world in a gated community and experience life. Soon, she is defying her mother, staying out all night, drinking, partying, and generally making poor decisions. Kennedy falls for Malik, who thrills and romances her. She ignores all of the warning signs, choosing Malik over her friends when they try to warn her against him. It takes a catastrophic event and serious consequences to help Kennedy see the error of her ways, though by then it may be too late. Fans of YA street lit authors, such as Ni-Ni Simone and L. Divine will enjoy this, and despite the mature content, it’s more suitable for the majority of high school libraries than adult titles in this genre.–Miranda Doyle, Lake Oswego School District, OR
Arnett, Mindee. Polaris. 432p. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062235626; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780062235640.
Gr 9 Up –Picking up where Avalon (HarperCollins, 2014) left off, this novel has Jeth Seagrave, along with his newly discovered sister and his crew, the Malleus Shades—a bunch of teen outlaws working jobs for an intergalactic crime lord—on the run from the ITA, who are still holding his scientist mother captive. Long-thought dead, she had been imprisoned for years by the galactic organization because she and her unborn child were radically changed by their time in deep space, gaining the ability to manipulate time and space mentally. Jeth’s otherworldly sister Cora holds the key to restoring the failed Metadrives that hold the Confederation together. In order to reunite his family, and ensure their continued freedom, Jeth must rely on his crew and enter into an extremely dangerous partnership with the galaxy’s newest crime lord, as he takes the fight to the heart of the ITA itself. With its high-octane plot, multidimensional characters, witty banter, and lots of heart, Polaris will appeal to fans of science fiction and action/adventure alike.–Ryan F. Paulsen, New Rochelle High School, NY
Arnold, Elana. Infandous. 200p. ebook available. Carolrhoda Lab. Feb. 2015. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781467738491. LC 2014008998.
Gr 10 Up –Sixteen-year-old Sephora Golding is the daughter of the incomparable former model Rebecca Golding. Seph lives a less-than-admirable life on the shadier side of Venice Beach, California. Her artwork keeps her grounded, but her meager lifestyle can’t compare to the lap of luxury that she could have living with her mother’s family across the country. Even with all of the negative aspects, the truly special connection that she has with her mother, one that stretches far beyond the typical mother-daughter relationship, keeps her tied to the place and the life that she has always known. Interspersed with Seph’s coming-of-age narrative are snippets of a fantastical fairy tale about a mermaid and a wolf that bear a striking resemblance to the teen’s own family drama. Arnold’s fresh and exciting plot twist is unexpected, elevated by the lyrical writing style. A well-written and evenly paced dramatic tale about finding peace in ones own situation.–Chad Lane, Easton Elementary, Wye Mills, MD
Bell, Cathleen Davitt. I Remember You. 320p. Knopf. Feb. 2015. lib. ed. $20.99. ISBN 9780385754569; Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780385754552; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780385754576. LC 2014004789.
Gr 10 Up –It’s 1994 in an East Coast suburban town. Juliet is a junior in high school, focusing on her future goals (law school). Lucas is a hockey player, who is from a less-affluent part of town, and has his future planned out: he’s joining the Marines. When Lucas walks into Physics class and sees Juliet, he knows they are going to date. He claims to have visions and memories that seem to be coming from his future. As these become more frequent, Juliet finds herself lost in his pain, unfocused on her goals, as she tries to hang on to their relationship in the present. Bell weaves an intensely passionate love story with a creative structure in which the present-day and future time lines eventually meet by its end. Well-developed and multidimensional supporting characters contribute to the book’s even pace. Strong imagery and realistic dialogue work seamlessly to create the ambiance of 1994, where pay phones were only a quarter and houses still had corded landlines. This romance novel has elements of science fiction, yet remains true and authentic to the intensity of feelings adolescents experience with their first loves. Recommended for fans of Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler’s The Future of Us (Penguin, 2011).–Stephanie DeVincentis, Downers Grove North High School, IL
Bredes, Don. Polly and the One and Only World. 336p. Green Writers. 2014. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9780989983891; ebk. ISBN 9780996087247.
Gr 9 Up –The “one and only world” referenced in the title is that of a near-future United States—magical, post-catastrophe, almost familiar, yet chillingly changed. Polly has been sent to the relative safety of her aunt and uncle in Florida to escape the Christian Protectorate government’s purge of her village in Vermont. But safety is not possible for a hereditary witch in the fundamentalist police state that America has become. The teen manages to escape capture by the guard with the aid of her familiar, Balthazar the crow. She sets off to find her family, but discovers travel through the wilds of climate cataclysm and institutionalized zealotry is not an easy course. With the help of friends she meets along the way, particularly the freethinking Leon, Polly struggles through betrayal, loss, and capture. With captivating language that draws readers in, Bredes’s writing will inspire teens to revere current freedoms. A thrilling journey, full of peril, exploit, friendship, and sorrow, this book is sure to find readers.–Genevieve Feldman, San Francisco Public Library
Brooks, Kevin. The Bunker Diary. 264p. ebook available. Carolrhoda Lab. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781467754200.
Gr 10 Up –Linus is a 16-year-old runaway living on the harsh English streets who wakes up one day in an unfamiliar underground bunker with no water or food while under constant surveillance by an unknown kidnapper. As each day passes, more people are kidnapped and are subjected to the same brutal conditions. When Linus and the rest try to escape and find out more about their situation and their kidnapper, they realize that, with their options dwindling, they may have to resort to the ultimate horror to survive. Brooks’s controversial Carnegie Medal-winner is truly a psychologically disturbing book that will leave readers with a deep sense of unease. It’s not a title for everyone: some may be unsettled by the harsh realities the protagonist faces, while others will be fascinated by the simple complexity of Brooks’s prose and truly effective storytelling. A unique choice that will get teens talking.–Christopher Lassen, Brooklyn Public Library
Cousins, Dave. Waiting for Gonzo. 288p. Flux. Jan. 2015. Tr $9.99. ISBN 9780738741994.
Gr 7 Up –Oz has just moved from his home in London to a small, sleepy village hours away from the big city. He misses his friends, does not like his family’s fixer-upper farmhouse, and is not doing a great job making friends. On the first day of school he realizes that instead of bringing his school bag, he has brought his sister’s dirty laundry, and, to make matters worse, he has decided that drawing a mustache and glasses on a girl’s photo in the school display case is a good idea. Sadly, Oz is unaware that the girl is the school bully who terrifies everyone, even the other bullies. Oz never thinks his plans through and Waiting for Gonzo is like watching one botched attempt after another to fix what has gone wrong: trying to make friends with the school bully by feeding her dog (good) chicken bones (bad); or helpfully telling his sister’s boyfriend all of her “flaws,” causing him to leave her. But Oz remains hopeful and fairly optimistic that eventually he will get something right, so he keeps trying. The protagonist is well rounded and true to the awkwardness of a teenage boy trying to find his way. –Lisa Nabel, Dayton Metro Library, OH
Doyle, Catherine. Vendetta. 352p. Scholastic/Chicken House. Feb. 2015. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780545699822; ebk. ISBN 9780545699839. LC 2014020255.
Gr 9 Up –Since her father’s murder trial, Sophie Gracewell has become a social pariah. Instead of attending parties and spending time with friends, she works at her father’s diner with her only remaining friend, Millie. Currently managed by her mysterious uncle, the diner will pass to Sophie when she turns 18. Reluctantly resigned to her fate, Sophie’s world suddenly gets shaken up by the mysterious arrival of a jar of honey left at the diner by gangster known as “The Sting.” Also, an immediate attraction develops between Sophie and Nicoli Falcone, one of the five brothers in a new family that moved in to a long abandoned neighborhood mansion. However, their relationship is initially complicated by his overbearing brothers and then later prohibited once the link between the Falcones and Gracewells is discovered. The protagonist must reconcile her affection for Nic with the violent role he plays in his family’s business, while also accepting the truth of her father’s incarceration and the reasons for her uncle’s sudden disappearance. Readers will be drawn in by the star-crossed romance and the compelling plot. For collections that can’t keep enough teen romances on the shelf.–Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD
Eagland, Jane. The World Within: A Novel of Emily Brontë. 336p. ebook available. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545492959. LC 2014004667.
Gr 6-9 –Eagland uses a line from an Emily Brontë poem as inspiration for the title of this novel to capture Emily’s introverted nature and to reference the fantastical worlds that she and her siblings created. Emily’s close-knit family—her father; siblings Branwell, Charlotte, and Anne; an aunt; and their housemaid—become real to readers. A scene where Emily’s pious aunt dips into her snuff jar while Charlotte’s friend is visiting is one example of Eagland’s skill in adding depth to the characters. The protagonist’s interactions with elders, siblings and their friends, and classmates at Roe Head reflect Emily’s complexity, and the emotions she experiences as she navigates these relationships are genuine. Emily and Anne struggle with their personal faith in God, and the author conveys this timeless issue with acuity. The themes of family, being true to oneself, rural vs. urban living, and coming of age are interwoven throughout without weighing down the story.–Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY
Furniss, Clare. The Year of the Rat. 304p. S. & S./Margaret K. McElderry Bks. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481420990; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781481421010. LC 2014025392.
Gr 7 Up –Fifteen-year-old Pearl is left with a broken stepfather, a newborn sister, and grief that is nearly too much to bear after her mother dies during childbirth. Shocked into numbness, she finds herself lashing out at her family and friends. Worst of all, she can’t stand her sister, (whom she disdainfully labels The Rat), a constant reminder that her mother is gone. Except her mother isn’t gone—feisty, fabulous Stella crops up unexpectedly, equally ready with advice and admonishment from beyond the grave. The premise of the novel is intriguing; though bleak, Furniss buoys heavy emotional scenes with elements of wit and humor. Pearl is surrounded by a strong cast of supporting characters, including elderly neighbor Dulcie, loyal best friend Molly, and snooty yet loving Nan. This novel glosses over some grittier elements of its plot, but is overall a touching, well-written depiction of adolescence and the pervasive, perplexing nature of loss.–Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journal
Gardner, Scot. The Dead I Know. 208p. ebook available. Houghton Harcourt. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780544232747. LC 2013050162.
Gr 9 Up– Aaron has trouble connecting with people. He suffers from recurring nightmares—horrific memories of a dead woman—that have been locked away, and most nights he sleepwalks away from his home and into a caravan park where the majority of residents are drug addicts. When the teen gets a funeral director apprenticeship with Mr. Barton, it is not the dead bodies that make him nervous, but Mr. Barton’s family and the grieving mourners instead. As his dreams become more intense and his Mam’s undiagnosed dementia becomes increasingly dangerous, Aaron must learn how to rely on the living if he wants to save his grandmother and himself. First published in Australia, this is a dark, psychological coming-of-age drama with memorable characters and believable dialogue. Gardner continuously keeps readers emotionally invested in the protagonist. Despite the heavy topics explored in the novel, including Aaron’s realization that his recurring dreams are actually repressed memories of a horrible event, and Aaron being the sole caretaker of his sick grandmother, Gardner writes with sensitivity and in a way that is accessible to teens. A darkly funny book.–Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ
Hall, Maggie. The Conspiracy of Us. 336p. ebook available. Putnam. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780399166501. LC 2014015540.
Gr 7 Up –Avery West has been very careful not to form strong friendships and bonds, knowing that they will be lost every time she has to move because of her mother’s job. When she meets Jack Bishop, a fellow new student at her school, everything changes. After a last-minute decision to attend prom with Jack, they are approached out of the blue by Stellan, who demands that Avery go with him and whom, strangely, Jack appears to know well. Soon Avery finds herself in a world of Keepers, the mandate, and The Circle of Twelve. Not only is her father alive and part of one of the secret families of The Circle, but he could possibly even be the head of one. There are secret societies Avery knows nothing about, and some of them want her out of the picture. Hall sweeps readers into a world of conspiracies, puzzles, and mystery from the first page, and provides a likable and intelligent narrator in Avery. –Selenia Paz, Helen Hall Library, League City, TX
Harris, Rachel. The Fine Art of Pretending. 256p. Spencer Hill. 2014. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781939392282; ebk. ISBN 9781939392275.
Gr 9 Up –Aly wants to lighten up and have more fun her senior year. To do this, she decides to shed her image as a serious girl and become a “casual.” She starts with skimpy clothes, makeup, and wearing her hair loose instead of in a ponytail. She makes more effort to get involved in social events. She jumps into the lake for a game of chicken and takes the stage for karaoke. And she asks her best friend, cute-boy Brandon, to be her pretend boyfriend so other boys will see her as datable. The friends soon begin to fall for each other, not realizing that the other feels the same way. Chapters alternate between the two teens. The voices are clearly distinct. There are mild references to sex, virginity, and drinking beer at a house party, but no serious or explicit exploration of these themes. There are also references to attending church, but only as a social, not religious, space. Fans of light teen romance will find just what they’re looking for in this confection.–Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK
Hensley, Joy N. Rites of Passage. 416p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062295194.
Gr 9 Up –Sam McKenna can never turn down a dare, and before one of her older brothers committed suicide, he proposed the ultimate challenge—be one of the first females to matriculate and graduate from prestigious Denmark Military School. Her military family can do little to help her as Sam faces harassment, sexism, and outright abuse from members of an all-male secret society on campus. This group is determined that no females will remain at the academy, but they have vastly underestimated the protagonist’s fortitude. Hensley’s contemporary novel is not an easy read because of the graphic depictions of hazing, but this worthwhile addition to the YA realm is notable for its portrayal of a strong female in the face of adversity. –Amanda C. Buschmann, Atascocita Middle School, Humble, TX
Jones, P.T. Floating Boy and the Girl Who Couldn’t Fly. 272p. ChiTeen. 2014. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9781771481731.
Gr 7-10 –Mary, about to enter high school, was not expecting a cute boy to drift into her life at her little cousin’s birthday party. Or to float right out of it again. But, right before her eyes, the boy floats off into the sky. While other partygoers conjure excuses for what they witnessed, Mary believes in the phenomenon. Then her little brother, Terry, starts floating too. Desperate to save Terry, Mary searches for Floating Boy to learn about what is causing the strange occurrence. Soon, her friends, and other children in town, are floating as well, but Mary remains grounded. When Terry is kidnapped by Mr. Barron, the sinister guardian of Floating Boy, the protagonist embarks on a mission to rescue her little brother, and everyone else in town, from this mad scientist. This captivating, multilayered story immediately engages readers with Mary’s snarky, spunky narration. But hovering beneath the mystery of Floating Boy is the specter of Mary’s mental issues: anxiety attacks caused her to miss the end of the school year. An unusual book that will enthrall young teens.–Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor School District, Lancaster, PA
Lake, Nick. There Will Be Lies. 400p. ebook available. Bloomsbury. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781619634404.
Gr 9 Up –“I have no words to describe how I am feeling—it’s like grief, maybe, but grief for myself. I was living my life, and then something came along and killed me, erased me.” Seventeen-year-old Shelby Jane Cooper’s world begins to come apart after she is hit by a car in Scottsdale, AZ. Her overprotective mother takes them on the run, and a coyote (who used to be a boy) begins to bring her into the Dreaming, a magical place where Shelby is no longer deaf and the animal inhabitants believe she can save them from an evil witch. What’s real, this world or the Dreaming? What are the “two lies” that Coyote warns Shelby about? What is the one truth? Lake’s new novel is perplexing and disorienting, full of the rich language and heady epiphanies. The plot draws on Native American mythology and the haunting vastness of the Southwest landscape. The battles between elks and wolves, narrow escapes from authorities, and the looming mystery (Who is Shelby?) will make teens want to tear through the pages.–Chelsey Philpot, Boston University
Landers, Melissa. Alienated. 352p. Bk. 1. 2014. Tr. $16.99. ISBN 9781423170280. LC 2013032977.
––––. Invaded. 368p. Bk. 2. Tr. $17.99. ISBN 9781423169499.
ea vol: (Alienated). ebook available. Disney-Hyperion. Feb. 2015.
Gr 9 Up –In Alienated, Cara Sweeney, high school overachiever and class valedictorian, has been selected to host the first L’eihr exchange student. Initial excitement and pride are quickly overshadowed by doubt and unease upon meeting the alien Aelyx. Although almost genetically identical, the two cultures are as different as night and day and the level of discomfort is evident. Further complicating matters is anti-alien paranoia and violence directed not only at Aelyx and the other exchange students, but also at Cara and her family. Drawn together due to circumstance, the teens start falling for each other. In Invaded, the couple continues to try to forge an alliance between the two planets, as mutual survival of both populations are depending on it. Excellent character development and a nice integration between modern reality and science fiction drive the plot in a satisfying story arc. Continuation of the story line is seamless between series installments, giving readers a continued interest in and connection to the protagonists. Teens will be rooting for the galactic couple while enjoying the action and suspense that runs through the two volumes. A fun pick for fans of sci-fi with a bit of romance.–Elizabeth Speer, Cisco College, TX
Larbalestier, Justine. Razorhurst. 280p. Soho Teen. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781616955441; ebk. $17.99. ISBN 9781616955458.
Gr 9 Up –Larbalestier’s latest features gritty historical fiction with a paranormal twist. The grim tale takes place in 1932 in a fictionalized version of Surry Hills neighborhood of Sydney, Australia. The neighborhood is dominated by two rival gangs, but because guns are illegal, violence is done using razor blades and gruesome scars are a common sight. The novel takes place over the course of one day and tells the story of two very different young women: Kelpie, a feral child raised by ghosts, and Dympha, a prostitute with a violent past who seems older than her years. Razorhurst introduces a historical period with which many North American readers may not be familiar. Though some of the events and character backstories border on improbable, the short chapters and multiple viewpoints keep things interesting. The ghosts emphasize the bloody nature of the time period and provides occasional humor.–Eliza Langhans, Hatfield Public Library, MA
Lee, Stacey. Under a Painted Sky. 384p. ebook available. Putnam. Mar. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780399168031. LC 2014015976.
Gr 7 Up–Although Samantha and her father have a successful dry goods store in Saint Joseph, Missouri, they long to escape: Samantha yearns to return to New York in hopes of a music career, while her father dreams of moving west to California. After her father dies in a fire, the teen is left grief-stricken and vulnerable. Their landlord, Ty Yorkshire, offers her accommodation at the town hotel, where she befriends Annamae, a slave housekeeper. After Samantha kills Ty during a rape attempt, she and Annamae create disguises and join a caravan traveling to California in search of gold. The ever-present fear of being caught, whether by police or fellow travelers becoming wise to their disguises, is effectively created, as is the primitive life on the trail. As the girls learn cowboy techniques such as using dried buffalo scat to make a campfire and roping horses, readers are introduced to authentic cowboy life. Complications arise for Samantha when she develops a crush on a fellow cowboy; while Annamae falls for a vaquero (Mexican cowboy). High drama, tension, romantic longings, and touches of humor will entice historical fiction fans, and will be a perfect tie-in to social studies curriculum.–Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA
Littman, Sarah Darer. Backlash. 336p. Scholastic. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545651264; ebk. ISBN 9780545651271.
Gr 7 Up –For sophomore Lara Kelly, things are finally looking up—she’s feeling more confident after losing weight and she made the varsity cheerleading team, which she never would have imagined two years earlier when she was overweight and severely depressed. Best of all, Lara has caught the attention of a cute guy on Facebook, and he has been hinting at asking her to the homecoming dance. But when she sees horrible comments from her crush on social media, she spirals into a dangerous mental state and suicide seems like the only escape. Bree is Lara’s former best friend from middle school, but they drifted apart when Bree couldn’t take Lara’s depression and self-involvement. The new Lara is suddenly getting everything that Bree is supposed to have—the popularity, and even the spot on the cheer team. Sydney and Liam are the younger siblings, who are caught up in the horror of a tragic event, and trying to figure out how to cope with their siblings’ issues while living their own lives. This novel thoughtfully balances the four alternating perspectives, giving an element of humanity even to the perpetrators of severe bullying while maintaining a strong moral judgment. Share with fans of Lane Davis’s I Swear (S. & S. 2012).–Tara Kron, School Library Journal
Liu, Liana. The Memory Key. 368p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062306647; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780062306661.
Gr 7 Up –Lora Mint’s mother died in a car accident five years ago, and the pain of losing her hasn’t diminished. Worse, Lora’s memories of her are fading, even though she has a Memory Key, because the Keys aren’t meant to preserve memories perfectly, just mimic the brain’s ability to remember. Her mom was a top scientist at Keep Corp, the morally questionable company that developed Memory Keys to combat the widespread Alzheimer’s-like Vergets Disease. After Lora’s key begins malfunctioning, she suddenly has crystal-clear memories of her mother—memories that make the teen wonder whether the accident actually ended her mom’s life. Now she must sort through her past to discover her mother’s true fate, before Keep Corp fixes her Memory Key and takes away her perfect recall forever. Liu has crafted a story with elements of mystery, corporate and government conspiracy, romance, and friendship. The narrative moves along at a quick enough pace that even reluctant readers will stay engaged. Lora is a mostly likable protagonist and her BFF Wendy adds comic relief and a voice of reason. Give this one to teens looking for suspense sprinkled with a little dystopia, lacking violence or mature content.–Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, La Crosse Public Library, WI
Lord, Emery. The Start of Me and You. 336p. ebook available. Bloomsbury. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781619633599. LC 2014014376.
Gr 7 Up –Aspiring screenwriter Paige Hancock is determined to redefine herself one year after her boyfriend, Aaron, drowned. Paige creates a checklist of tasks that she intends to accomplish during her junior year to finally shake off the label of “the girl whose boyfriend drowned” in small-town Oakhurst, IN. With the support of a solid core of best friends, Paige succeeds in her “plan to become normal again.” The crew also helps her recover from the devastating loss of her beloved and supportive grandmother and to cope with her divorced parents dating each other. She also finds a budding romance in an unexpected place—with Max Watson, nerdy cousin of heartthrob Ryan Chase. In sharp contrast to darker, more issue-driven YA books, this title keeps truer to the problems that most teens face. The protagonist’s upbeat attitude will inspire readers to persevere even during the low points in life.–Nicole Knott, Watertown High School, CT
McGann, Oisin. Rat Runners. 319p. Open Road. Jan. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781497665804; ebk. ISBN 9781497665729.
Gr 6-9 –An engrossing dystopian thriller, perfect for fans of the genre. McGann draws readers in from the start with an exciting chase scene, and the excitement just keeps building. Nimmo, Scope, Manikin, and FX are four young thieves living in a version of London that is controlled by a corporation called WatchWorld. London’s streets are littered with cameras and patrolled by Safe-Guards, half-human, half-robot patrols that keep the citizens in check. But the criminal underworld still exists. Move-Easy is one of many gang members who has gone underground, away from all and any cameras in order to avoid detection. After Brundle’s murder, Nimmo must go into hiding and prevent whatever is in the case from falling into the wrong hands. Rat Runners has all the elements that dystopian readers are looking for, while still remaining a unique contribution to the genre, combining action, mystery, and suspense.–Patrick Tierney, Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School RI
McStay, Moriah. Everything That Makes You. 352p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062295484.
Gr 9 Up –As a child, Fiona Doyle was in a horrible accident that left part of her face permanently scarred. Now in high school, she is an excellent student, has a family who loves her, enjoys talking to her best friend, Lucy, and has a crush on Trent McKinnon. In alternating chapters, readers meet Fi Doyle, the imaginary girl who escaped that horrible childhood accident. Now in high school, Fi is the best lacrosse player, has a family who loves her, and enjoys talking to her best friend, Trent McKinnon. In both versions of this story, Fiona and Fi successfully navigate through school, fall in love, go to college, and struggle with the conflict. As expected, Fi’s life goes down a different path than Fiona’s, but readers will see that they have much in common after all. McStay weaves similar characters and circumstances throughout their worlds. It is interesting to see how each girl interacts with these people and reacts to her environment. The author consistently builds the plot without breaking the pace of the narrative. McStay’s debut explores the theme of choices and how those choices become the framework for the person who makes them.–Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX
Meadows, Jodi. The Orphan Queen. 400p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062317384; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780062317407.
Gr 7 Up –Wilhelmina—more frequently known as Wil—is a princess. However, she’s a royal who’s more used to stealing food than curtsying in a palace. Wil’s homeland of Aecor was conquered 10 years earlier by the Indigo Kingdom and Wil and a band of other orphaned children of Aecor nobility have been living secretly as refugees in Skyvale, the capital of the Indigo Kingdom. The teen and the other refugees have plans to take back their home by infiltrating the palace. As Wilhelmina’s mission inside the palace proceeds, it is complicated not just by her secret ability to practice magic—which has been forbidden for almost a century—but also by her connection to the vigilante Black Knife, a masked figure who helps the poor and the weak in the streets of Skyvale. Fans of Katniss and the Sisters of St. Mortain from Robin LaFevers’s “His Fair Assassin” series (Houghton Harcourt) and other strong, vengeful female heroines will root for Wil, as she plots revolution, struggles with her conflicted feelings for Black Knife, and discovers more about wraith, the toxic by-product of magic.–Evelyn Khoo Schwartz, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC
Mills, Wendy. Positively Beautiful. 368p. ebook available. Bloomsbury. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781619633414.
Gr 8 Up –Hit with the news of her beloved mother’s cancer diagnosis, Erin is further rocked by the discovery that she may be at risk for a similar struggle. As she comes to terms with her new normal, the decisions she makes have great implications in her formerly quiet life. The teen’s behavior occasionally skirts the line of plausibility, but readers will be sympathetic to her extreme emotional conflict. The subject matter transcends the typical “cancer novel” material by including conflict over testing for the BRCA gene but still goes for the emotional jugular throughout. The novel will be highly appealing to teens who would be interested in a more modern take on a well-trod genre.–Erinn Black Salge, Saint Peter’s Prep, Jersey City, NJ
Moskowitz, Hannah. Not Otherwise Specified. 304p. ebook available. S. & S./Simon Pulse. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781481405966; pap. $11.99. ISBN 9781481405959.
Gr 9 Up –High school junior Etta juggles many identities, none of which seem to fit quite right. She’s bisexual, but shunned by her group of friends, the self-named Disco Dykes, who can’t forgive her for dating a boy. She has an eating disorder, but never weighs little enough to qualify as officially anorexic. She’s a dancer, but just tap these days, not ballet, because as a short, curvy, African American teen, she doesn’t seem to have the right look for ballet. She feels like she’s never enough—not gay enough, straight enough, sick enough, or healthy enough. More than anything, she just wants to get out of Nebraska and hopes auditioning for the prestigious Brentwood arts high school will be her ticket to New York. A rehearsal group introduces her to Bianca, a quiet (and extremely sick) 14-year-old from her eating disorder support group. Together, they prepare for the auditions and form a surprising friendship, one that embraces flaws, transcends identities, and is rooted in genuine caring. Moskowitz masterfully negotiates all of the issues, never letting them overwhelm the story, and shows the intersectionality of the many aspects of Etta’s identity. The characters here are imperfect and complicated, but ultimately hopeful. Etta’s candid and vulnerable narrative voice will immediately draw in readers, making them root for her as she strives to embrace her identity free from labels and expectations.–Amanda MacGregor, formerly at Apollo High School Library, St. Cloud, MN
Nielsen, Jennifer A. Mark of the Thief. 352p. ebook available. Scholastic. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780545561549.
Gr 6-9 –A fantastical alternate history set in ancient Rome. Nicolas Calva and his sister are slaves in the mines outside of Rome. When Nic is forced to retrieve treasure from Julius Caesar’s cave, he assumes he is going to his death. But inside the cave he finds a bulla, a magical amulet thought to have given Caesar great power, and takes it for himself. Suddenly, Nic is the most wanted fugitive in Rome. The emperor and a powerful general are after the amulet and they will kill Nic to get it. His only help is Aurelia, a plebian girl who is searching for her own family. With no one to trust and nowhere to hide, the protagonist must decide how he is going to save his sister and get out with his life. He doesn’t want the bulla or the responsibility of the magic it contains, but if the magical object gets into the wrong hands, Rome will be at war and Nic will be at the center of it all. Fans of Nielsen’s “Ascendance” trilogy (Scholastic) will be clamoring for this new series. This genre mash-up of history, fantasy, and action/adventure is fast-paced and explores themes such as class struggles, familial ties, and the immorality of slavery.–Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Rockaway Township Public Library, NJ
Niven, Jennifer. All the Bright Places. 400p. Knopf. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780385755887; lib. ed. $20.99. ISBN 9780385755894; ebk. ISBN 9780385755900. LC 2014002238.
Gr 10 Up –Violet Markey is on the ledge of her school’s bell tower, six stories up, and frozen in terror. Theodore Finch, the Freak, stands on the ledge nearby. Before she can panic, he calms her down and gets her back on solid ground. He even lets everyone think she’s the one who talked him out of jumping. Violet, until recently, was a popular cheerleader and Finch has a well-earned reputation for being manic, violent, and unpredictable. But Finch won’t let their encounter rest. He’s suddenly everywhere Violet goes and even signs her up as his partner on a “Wander the State” school project. He pushes and challenges the protagonist, and seems to understand the effect her sister’s death made on her. But though Violet begins to recover from the devastating grief that has cocooned her for almost a year, Finch’s demons refuse to let go. The writing in this heartrending novel is fluid, despite the difficult topics, as Niven relays the complex thought processes of the two teens. Finch and Violet, with their emotional turmoil and insecurities, will ring true to teens. Finch in particular will linger in readers’ minds long after the last page is turned.–Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL
Oseman, Alice. Solitaire. 368p. HarperCollins/ HarperTeen. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062335685; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780062335708.
Gr 9 Up –Sixteen-year-old Victoria “Tori” Spring is the personification of angst, slowly slipping, day by day, into the depths of despair. On a good day, she can convince herself she feels nothing. Her best friend has become preoccupied with boys; her brother, Charlie, is recovering from an episode of mental illness and attempted suicide; a former childhood friend has suddenly resurfaced with expectations that she can’t fulfill; and her mother cannot tear herself away from the computer long enough to notice Tori’s decline. Then, there’s Michael Holden, the crazy new student who refuses to let Tori alienate herself from him the way she is doing with everyone else. He forces himself into her life at the same time as a bizarre prank is unleashed to instigate rebellion among the students at Higgs. Solitaire.co.uk delivers messages via blog posts and by commandeering the schools’ computers and PA system, touting a rallying cry of “Patience Kills.” Strangely, all of its enigmatic messages seem to bear some resemblance to episodes in Tori’s past. When the pranks begin to turn dangerous, Tori convinces herself that she’s the only one who can put a stop to it. Told in the first person, Tori’s wry voice and dark humor provide a counterpoint to her descent into depression. A fascinating debut from an author to watch.–Cary Frostick, formerly at Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA
Rodriguez, Cindy L. When Reason Breaks. 304p. Bloomsbury. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781619634121. LC 2014009109.
Gr 9 Up –This realistic novel invites readers into the lives of two high schoolers, Elizabeth Davis and Emily Delgado, as they struggle with unrelated painful events, reacting in ways as different as their personalities. Artistic Elizabeth changes her appearance to look goth, skips class, fights with her mother, and sometimes experiences uncontrollable rage. Emily tends toward a preppy, academic style, but bouts of anxiety impact her studies and relationships. The two young women are brought together in their English class, where teacher Mrs. Diaz engages students with authentic care and a curricular focus on Emily Dickinson. Deep analysis of the poet’s life and writings results in personal insights for the protagonists. The use of foreshadowing at the beginning of the book alerts to future trauma without spoiling the plot, and a reference to the board game Clue provides a subtle tool for making meaning of the quick shifts in narrative perspective and form. Latino culture, and bicultural and gay family relationships are woven easily into the story. Overall, this text provides important insights into the various stressors that can lead to depression and suicide, as well as the type of support required to move toward potential healing.–Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, IL
Ruby, Laura. Bone Gap. 368p. HarperCollins/ Balzer & Bray. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062317605; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780062317636.
Gr 10 Up –It is a rare book that sits comfortably on the shelf with the works of Twain, McCullers, Conroy, Stephen King, and D’Aulaires’ Greek Myths–rarer still that a novel combines elements of these authors together. Bone Gap does just this, to superb effect. We start with a boy named Finn and his brother, Sean. Sean is the classic hero: strong, silent, great at everything he does. Finn is a pretty boy whose otherworldly goofiness has earned him the nicknames Spaceman, Sidetrack, and Moonface. Along comes Rosza, a beautiful and damaged young woman, fleeing from some unknown evil. When she disappears, only Finn witnesses her abduction and he is unable to describe her captor. He is also unsure whether she left by force or choice. The author defies readers’ expectations at every turn. In this world, the evidence of one’s senses counts for little; appearances, even less. Evil happens, embodied in a timeless, nameless horror that survives on the mere idea of beauty. A powerful novel.–Nina Sachs, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME
Saeed, Aisha. Written in the Stars. 304p. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Bks. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780399171703.
Gr 9 Up –Naila is a Pakistani American high school senior. As the story opens, her greatest trouble is the risk of going to the prom with her high school sweetheart against the wishes of her protective and conservative parents. She does anyway, her parents find out, and their reaction is swift and extreme: the family departs immediately for Pakistan and negotiates an arranged marriage for Naila. Her impassioned struggle against the constraints of an arranged marriage is a compelling story. This is a cross-cultural eye opener; since Naila had never left the US until she was 18, her first-person account resonates in its explanations of the rituals, especially how they would look and feel from an American point of view. Yet the setting is pure Pakistani, with culturally rich descriptions of Naila’s extended family, their cuisine, and strongly held beliefs. The prose is simple and straightforward. The spare prose is evocative: Saeed shows rather than tells, allowing readers to imagine how Naila must feel. A good choice for libraries looking to diversify their shelves.–Amy Thurow, New Glarus School District, WI
Sedgwick, Marcus. The Ghosts of Heaven. 256p. Roaring Brook. Jan. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781626721258; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781626721265.
Gr 7 Up –Sedgwick’s latest work consists of individual tales spanning centuries of time connected only by a single thread—in this case a shape; the spiral. From a mark scribbled in the dust by a girl of prehistoric times to the strands of the rope used to hang a medieval girl accused of witchcraft; from a poet plagued by madness who finds the spiral with its never-ending pattern horrifying to the one person left awake to watch over a ship full of sleepers in a state of suspended animation as they spiral through the universe looking for a new earth, each story carries a message of loss and discovery. Tying all four stories together is this one mysterious symbol, which can be found throughout nature in the shells of snails, the patterns of birds in flight, the seeds in a sunflower, and the strands of the double helix of DNA and comes to signify in these tales, a dance of death (and life). At once prosaic and wondrously metaphysical, Sedgwick’s novel will draw teens in and invite them to share in the awe-inspiring (and sometimes terrifying) order and mystery that surround us all.–Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK
Seigel, Andrea & Brent Bradshaw. Everybody Knows Your Name. 352p. Viking. Mar. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780670015627; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781101631621.
Gr 7 Up –When 10 assorted and unlikely teens are chosen to appear on a Big Brother-meets-American Idol reality TV show called Spotlight, personalities are bound to spark. These participants will live together in a fabulous mansion in the Hollywood Hills, and after each performance one will be eliminated by the panel of celebrity judges and the voting American public. In alternating chapters, Seigel and Bradshaw flesh out a distinct and often quirky personality for each of the performers, family members, and program employees through their interaction with the main characters, Magnolia and Ford. She is a pretty young Californian whose father died after leaving her and her fame-obsessed mother, and whose surfer boyfriend pops in and out of her life. Magnolia wants to change—and this show might be a terrific way to reinvent herself. Ford’s family in Arkansas spends more time in jail than in their broken-down home, and needs to win Spotlight in order to pull himself out of the family’s cycle of self-destruction. The teens make an unlikely couple, but their relationship makes great publicity for the show. They soon learn the price of fame, and the consequences of their actions. A must-read for fans of light romance and reality TV.–MaryAnn Karre, West Middle School, Binghamton, NY
Shabazz, Ilyasah with Kekla Magoon. X: A Novel. 384p. bibliog. chart. chron. ebook available. Candlewick. Jan. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780763669676.
Gr 8 Up –Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little. The story opens with his departure from Michigan as a teen, though there are flashbacks to his younger years. It follows Malcolm through his time in Boston and Harlem, culminating with his conversion to Islam and his decision to change his name while in prison in 1948. The story does contain some gritty situations, most notably the use of the “n” word, non-graphic sex, drug and alcohol abuse, and criminal behavior. This was the reality of Malcolm X’s early life, and make the later scenes that more authentic. This is an eye-opening look at an important historical figure. The author’s honesty about his early troubles serves to convey that it is possible to rise through adversity to make a positive difference in this world. A worthwhile addition to any collection.–Kristin Anderson, Columbus Metropolitan Library System, OH
Simmons, Kristen. The Glass Arrow. 336p. Tor Teen. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780765336613; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781466828780.
Gr 9 Up –In a not-too-distant future, void of the belief in prayer and God, prayer is outlawed. Each public auction of available young girls raised for breeding purposes begins with a moment of silence to give thanks to the rich men who seek out subjects to purchase. Not only are women denied basic human rights in this caste society, but no one is given the opportunity to rise out of their assigned station. Lower caste men are neurologically altered to serve as either mindless, fashion-conscious baby-sitters for the chatteled young girls or emotionless security guards to keep the girls in line. Sixteen-year-old Aya, an educated renegade raised to think independently, is captured for sport by a rich young magnate and turned over to the capital city of Glasscaster for auction to the highest bidder. Aya is valuable because she has lived her life free, with natural foods, unlike the chemical substitutes given to the young girls raised within the city walls. This means that Aya has a higher chance of giving birth to a male child. Despite her attempts to sabotage her auctions, Aya finds herself not only sold, but also transferred to the highest household in town, Mayor Rykor’s home. There’s a much of Katniss Everdeen in Aya—a familiar strength and determination. Aya is an independent thinker, strong and self-reliant. Despite some slow pacing in the middle, fans of dystopian and postapocalyptic YA fiction will thoroughly enjoy this read.–Sabrina Carnesi, Crittenden Middle School, Newport News, VA
Smale, Holly. Geek Girl. 384p. ebook available. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062333575; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9780062333599.
Gr 7-10 –Harriet Manners, star of this British import, is a geek through and through. She has no idea how to dress, is awkward and clumsy, spouts off facts at every opportunity, is bullied mercilessly at school, and has one friend, Nat, and one stalker, Toby. Nat dreams of becoming a fashion model and drags a completely uninterested Harriet along to Clothes Week, hoping to get discovered. As soon as they arrive, Nat runs off to find an agent leaving Harriet to her own devices. While looking at hats, Harriet manages to knock over several stalls, which creates quite a commotion and leads to her unwanted discovery by a modeling agent. Insert hilarity, deception, misunderstanding, fashion, makeup, and hairstyles. Quirky, likable, and geeky, Harriet is an outsider to the modeling world but possesses a natural charm that is everything the fashion world needs. Pure fun.–Heather Acerro, Rochester Public Library, MN
Thomas, Rhiannon. A Wicked Thing. 352p. ebook available. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Feb. 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062303530.
Gr 7 Up –Feminist blogger Thomas’s debut novel takes the happily-ever-after out of the “Sleeping Beauty” fairy tale, and explores the fallout that takes place after Aurora is brought out of her deep sleep. Awakened after her 100-year nap, her friends and family long-dead, Aurora is thrust into an engagement with the stranger whose kiss roused her, Prince Rodric, the only son in the royal family currently governing the kingdom of Alysse. Her home is by no means the peaceful place it was: angry factions combat against the cruel and totalitarian King John, and the country seems to be teetering on the brink of a civil war. Aurora’s tale has been a symbol of hope for many, and the pressure to live up to the expectations that her awakening, and in turn, her intended marriage will bring about a change for the better, are immense. Uncomfortable with her new role, Aurora secretly makes nightly escapes to the city, where she meets Tristan, one of the rebels, to whom she forms an intense attraction, until the violence of his convictions drives her away. On the day her wedding is to take place, she makes a break for it, unsure of where she is headed, but content to be “nothing but herself.” The book is welcome twist on the classic helpless-princess-saved-by-dashing-prince. Aurora is a relatable character and fairy tale and fantasy fans alike will breeze through this retelling.–Joanna Sondheim, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City
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